Charles Deas: Lost artist of the American frontier

Born in 1818, Deas (pronounced days) painted prolifically up until the age of 29, when he went insane. He lived the rest of his life in mental institutions until he died in 1867. Self-Portrait, 1840. From the National Academy Museum, New York Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

Long Jakes, the Rocky Mountain Man, 1844. Jointly owned by the Denver Art Museum and the Anschutz Collection Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

Indian Group, 1845. From the Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

Winnebago (Wa-kon-cha-hi-re-ga) in a Bark Lodge, 1842. From the St Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri, St Louis Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

Walking the Chalk, 1838. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

Sioux Playing Ball, 1843. Fromy the Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

The Death Struggle, 1845. From the collections of the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vermont Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

Winnebagos Playing Checkers, 1842. From a private collection, New York Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum

A Solitary Indian, Seated on the Edge of a Bold Precipice, 1847. From the Museum of the American West, Autry National Centre, Los Angeles Photograph: Courtesy the Denver Art Museum